Welcome to the next installment of the RCRC Board Member Spotlight, a recurring feature of the Barbed Wire! The Board Member Spotlight is intended to familiarize subscribers with RCRC Board members, providing insights from their background in public service to their views on pressing rural county issues. RCRC is pleased to introduce the subject of the June 2025 Board Member Spotlight, Humboldt County Supervisor and RCRC Executive Committee Member, Rex Bohn.
1. What inspired you to pursue a career in public service?
Since finishing high school, I have been highly involved in my community and have served on multiple committees, school associations, and even the Fair Board. When I got close to retirement age from the 9-to-5 gig, I was asked by friends to run for public office. It was during the General Plan Update for Humboldt County, and I wanted to ensure property rights and resource lands were used as they were meant to be and historically had been. I thought I’d serve one term to get through that, and 5 terms later… here I am.
2. What is one piece of advice you might share with a newly elected county supervisor based on your experience?
There will always be people who question what you do, some eloquently, some not so much. Ask yourself if you would ever seek advice from that person. If the answer is no, don’t let it bother you. Just listen to them and don’t react. (I try)
3. What makes your community unique?
Humboldt has been through a few transitions, as all counties have. My District is made up of a lot of resource lands, agriculture, timber, mining, etc., and I work to preserve those rights and the sacred environment from which and on which we live. My District’s uniqueness is how we are able to adapt and still thrive. Love Humboldt!
4. What is a policy or initiative in your county of which you are most proud?
I am most proud of the hard work put in prior to and in 2016, when we helped lead the County and the State (with the help of RCRC) in legitimizing the cannabis industry. No matter what your feelings are about the “devil’s lettuce”, we had to put a system of regulations in place. I think we did a good job. We started with the lowest tax rate and weren’t looking to balance our budget off of the industry.
5. How long have you served on the RCRC Board and why do you believe the work of RCRC to be important?
I have been on the RCRC Board for 12 years, including serving as Chair in 2018. I have found RCRC to be the most helpful in getting answers to what the hell the State is up to next. I value their evaluation of legislation and their comprehensive research that gives RCRC members a great advantage in knowing what to support. “One size fits all” does not work for rural counties and RCRC points that out to the people in Sacramento.
6. What do you view as the most pressing rural county issue for RCRC to engage on over the next few years?
Mental Health, Drug use, Housing, Fire, protecting our rural communities– All of which can’t be done on a budget of one county when 75% of their lands are federal lands. RCRC brings those counties together to do the big work.
7. What is something about you that people may be surprised to learn?
That I graduated from high school in 2013! And graduated from college in 1975.